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CHAPTER 1

CRIME AT THE NOTARY’S OFFICE

“What are you thinking about?” Tom Wills asked the famous

detective. “I get the impression that you’ve just read something really
interesting in the newspaper. Is there some intriguing story that we
should look into?”

Harry Dickson put down the paper.
“I’m afraid you are wrong, my boy. I have just noticed an obituary,

which brought back some memories.”

“Have any of your relatives died?” Tom said worried.
“No, not at all . . .”
“But this death has had a great influence on you?”
“That is true. It was a man whom I met by accident and whose life

was full of adventures.”

Tom Wills picked up the newspaper and looked, intrigued, at the

detective.

Dickson knew his assistant very well so after a quiet moment he said:
“He was a slave trader!”
“A slave trader?” Tom repeated rather surprised. “Slave trading is

forbidden all around the world.”

“He stopped doing it twelve years ago, but don’t be so shocked: there

are still areas in Africa where slaves are sold in public places. I met this
man because I did him a favor and in return he told me the story of
his life. Now he is dead . . . But what’s this?” the detective asked. “It
seems that somebody has come to visit us.”

Indeed, somebody rang the doorbell and Tom ran to let the person

in.

A tall man came in. His face showed worry and excitement.
“My name is O’Brien, I’m a notary,” he introduced himself in a loud

voice. “May I see Mr. Dickson immediately, please? It is a matter of
great importance.”

Soon the mysterious guest was standing in front of the detective.
“This young gentleman has probably told you my name. I’ve come

to you, Mr. Dickson, in connection with a matter that my life and
honor depend on. I’m begging you to help me.”

Harry Dickson observed the guest for a moment and then said:
“Mr. O’Brien . . . I’ve heard that name from old Mr. Firmont, the

slave trader.”

“Firmont!” the man exclaimed. “You said Firmont but I . . .”
“ . . . have come to talk about his case,” the detective finished with

a smile.

The notary looked at Dickson with great admiration.
“That’s incredible!” he finally said. “I’ve been told a lot about your

intuition but would you allow me to put it to the test?”

“If it makes you feel better . . .”
The notary hesitated for a moment.
“You said, Mr. Dickson, that you knew Mr. Firmont?”
“Yes, that’s true. I met him only once many years ago but I got to

know him very well.”

notary notariusz

impression wrażenie

look into zbadać

notice zauważyć

obituary nekrolog

bring back memories

przywoływać wspomnienia

relative krewny

worry martwić się

influence wpływ

by accident przypadkowo

adventure przygoda

pick up podnieść

slave trader handlarz

niewolników

forbidden zabroniony

do somebody

a favor wyświadczyć komuś

przysługę

in return w zamian

indeed rzeczywiście

excitement podniecenie

immediately natychmiast

matter sprawa

mysterious tajemniczy

in connection with w związku z

depend on zależeć od

beg błagać

exclaim wykrzyknąć

case sprawa do rozwiązania

admiration podziw

incredible niesamowite

I’ve been told powiedziano mi

allow pozwolić

put somebody to a test

wystawić kogoś na próbę

hesitate wahać się

“All right, so can you tell me why I have come here?”
Dickson looked at him and said with confidence:
“You have come to see me in order to ask for advice concerning the

slave trader’s will.”

O’Brien opened his eyes wide.
“Oh, my goodness! You are marvellous!”
“I believe that the will was stolen last night. I learned from the

newspaper that Mr. Firmont has died. But you are not interested in his
person but the document presenting his final will and testament. The
fact that you are so nervous must mean that something has gone wrong.
I’ll tell you more. I would guess that you had appointed someone to
take care of the will but he was attacked and robbed.”

“Oh my God!” O’Brien exlaimed. “Are you a clairvoyant?”
“No,” the detective replied. “The blood on the sleeve of your jacket

explained this puzzle to me. It’s not your blood, though. It belongs to
the person who was attacked.”

The notary sat down on a chair truly surprised. “You’ve guessed

everything. Mr. Firmont trusted me with his will and I put it into my
safe. Yesterday, in the morning, one of his relatives came to me, informed
me of his death and asked me to guard the will more carefully. But . . .
are you listening to me?” the notary interrupted his speech when he
noticed that the detective was looking somewhere else, not at him.

“I have never listened to anybody else with greater attention,”

Dickson replied. “Please, continue.”

“The relative added that the deceased left a great fortune, mostly

in gold and jewellery. Nobody knows, however, where this treasure is
hidden. He told me also that the reading of the will should take place
today. He warned me once again that I should take great care with the
document because there were people, among the heirs, who were ready
to do anything to get the treasure.”

“Is it true that they will read out the will today?”
“Oh no, not at all!” O’Brien denied. “I also thought that it was

strange because nobody else has contacted me to make an appointment
for this date.”

“I believe you found the document and put it aside in case the

reading would take place soon.”

“Of course. I didn’t remember at first where I had put it, but finally

I found it under a pile of other documents in my safe. I put it on
a separate shelf and to increase security I asked one of my assistants
to spend the night in my office. In the morning I found him in bed
bleeding heavily.”

While listening to the notary’s story Dickson started putting on his

coat.

“We’ve got to go there immediately. This case is extremely funny!”
The notary jumped.
“Funny?” he exclaimed. “In my opinion you have used the wrong

word, Mr. Dickson!”

The detective smiled.
“Please, don’t get me wrong but I can’t help laughing. This story

brings me much satisfaction but unfortunately I can’t share my
conclusions with you yet. Let’s go, each minute is precious!”

confidence pewność siebie

in order w celu

concerning dotyczący

will testament

Oh, my goodness! O mój Boże!

marvellous cudowny

learn

tu: dowiedzieć się

something has gone wrong coś

poszło źle

I guess wydaje mi się

appoint mianować, wyznaczyć

take care of zaopiekować się

rob okraść

clairvoyant jasnowidz

reply odpowiedzieć

sleeve rękaw

puzzle zagadka

though jednak

belong należeć

truly naprawdę

trust zaufać

guard strzec

interrupt przerwać, przeszkodzić

attention uwaga

add dodać

deceased zmarły

jewellery biżuteria

treasure skarb

hide (hid, hidden) ukryć

warn ostrzegać

take care with uważać na

heir spadkobierca

deny zaprzeczyć

make an appointment umówić

się

put aside odłożyć

in case na wypadek jeśli

pile sterta

shelf półka

increase zwiększyć

bleed (bled, bled) krwawić

extremely nadzwyczaj

get somebody wrong źle kogoś

zrozumieć

I can’t help laughing Nie mogę

powstrzymać się od śmiechu

share dzielić się

conclusion wniosek

precious cenny

A taxi, which was waiting in front of the house, took them to the

notary’s office. Harry Dickson ran fast upstairs.

“Show me the room in which your assistant stayed overnight.”
“The first room on the right,” the notary explained. “Wait a moment,

I’ll unlock the door.”

“That won’t be necessary,” the detective said. “It’s already open.”
He went in and carefully took a look around. The burglars had made

a hole in the door with a sharp tool. Then one of them had put his
hand through the hole and opened the lock. The assistant had been
asleep so they hit him over the head with something heavy, took the
key, easily opened the safe and stole the will. The detective thought for
a moment and asked:

“Has any money or anything precious been stolen?”
“No, absolutely nothing. Anyway, the amount of money in the

safe was rather small. The criminals were definitely looking for Mr.
Firmont’s will.”

“I have no doubts about that, either,” said the detective. “And where

is the young man, your assistant?”

“I ordered someone to take him home and call a doctor.”
“Isn’t the wound dangerous?”
“I’ve already told you that Jamesson, that’s his name, was all covered

in blood.”

The detective picked up a piece of wood which had been broken off

the door and examined it slowly.

“How long has Jamesson been working for you?”
“For a year. He’s a clever and intelligent young man. I guess you are

considering whether we should suspect him. Well, I can assure you that
he’s an honest man. But . . . what are you doing?”

Harry Dickson bent down and was looking at the hole in the door.

fast szybko

overnight na noc

unlock otworzyć

take a look around rozejrzeć się

burglar włamywacz

hole dziura

tool narzędzie

steal (stole, stolen) ukraść

anyway w każdym razie

amount ilość

doubt wątpliwość

wound rana

break off odłamać się

examine zbadać

consider rozważać

suspect podejrzewać

assure zapewnić

honest uczciwy

bend down schylić się

The detective picked up a piece of wood which had been broken off the door and
examined it slowly.

“I must verify where the missing part of this piece of wood is.”
“Will it help you discover who the burglars were?”
“Please, be patient. Can I see the safe now? Has Jamesson always

got the key to it?”

“No, I gave it to him last night. I was sure that I put it in the proper

hands.”

“I’m afraid you acted unreasonably,” the detective remarked ironically.
“I’d like to stress once again that Jamesson is a trustworthy

person.”

“He’s one in a million then,” said the detective pulling the key out

of the safe lock and looking at it thoroughly.

“Tell me, please,” he said after a while, “do you have a black man in

your office?”

“A black man? Absolutely not! Why would you ask such a strange

question?”

“I’ve asked you about it to confirm my guess. Would you mind taking

a look at this key, please? . . . Can you see that thick black curly hair?”

“Indeed, it looks like a black man’s hair,” the notary replied. “What

kind of conclusions do you draw from it?”

“Very simple. The burglar was definitely black. Now, let’s hurry to

see your assistant. If his wound isn’t too painful he will give us some
explanations.”

A few minutes later they arrived at the assistant’s apartment.
“Where is Mr. Jamesson? I’m his boss. I’d like to speak to him

immediately.”

“Mr. Jamesson,” the housekeeper said, “left yesterday for his office

and was planning to spend the night there.”

“But I sent him back home this morning,” the notary said surprised.
“Oh, my God!” the woman exclaimed. “So something bad has

probably happened to him! He told me yesterday that somebody had
been following him for days.”

“He has been murdered, I fear,” O’Brien said. “And it was me

who . . .”

At that moment the doorbell rang. They heard a male voice in the

corridor.

“Does a man called Jamesson live in this house?”
“He did yesterday,” the housekeeper answered.
“That is correct. A quarter of an hour ago we found his clothes in

the Thames. They’re all covered in blood. We found a wallet in the
pocket and a card with the name John Jamesson on it.”

“Oh, my Lord!” the notary said. “I recognize those clothes.”
“Who is that?” the inspector asked, “Harry Dickson?”
“Nice to see you, Wilson. Do you know anything about the burglary

which took place in Mr. O’Brien’s office last night?”

“Of course, I do. We were informed about it early in the morning

but this name was not mentioned. Poor Mr. Jamesson! I guess I’ve
found a clue.”

“That’s great! Good luck! We can go, Mr. O’Brien. We cannot

help with anything here. Even though the police have taken on this
case, I’m going to devote my time to solve it as well. I am extremely
interested in it.”

verify zweryfikować

missing brakujący

patient cierpliwy

proper właściwy

act

tu: zachować się

unreasonably nierozsądnie

remark zauważyć

stress podkreślić

trustworthy godny zaufania

one in a million jeden

z nielicznych

thoroughly dogłębnie

confirm potwierdzić

curly kręcony

draw

tu: wyciągać

hurry spieszyć się

painful bolesny

apartment mieszkanie

housekeeper gospodyni

leave for udać się do

follow śledzić

male męski

corridor korytarz

the Thames Tamiza

wallet portfel

recognize rozpoznać

burglary włamanie

take place mieć miejsce

mention wspomnieć

clue wskazówka

Good luck! Powodzenia!

take on

tu: zająć się

devote poświęcić

solve rozwiązać

as well także

CHAPTER 2

A POISONED ARROW

“This microphotography camera is incredible!” Dickson said. “It’s

very useful in my work.”

Saying this the detective picked up a photo and held it up to the

light.

“Perfect! The blood cells are clearly visible. Big pale circles with

a hollow in the middle. It’s pigeon’s blood.”

Tom, who was busy in another room developing photos, came in. He

was holding a few more pictures.

“They are all good,” he said. “It’s amazing how the blood cells of

various animals differ! A person who doesn’t know the miracles of
microphotography doesn’t realize how characteristic the blood cells
are because they cannot see them.”

“Of course,” the detective agreed. “It’s scientifically proven that the

shape of blood cells depends on the species.”

“Here you are. This is the photo you asked for.”
“Let’s take a good look at it. It’s a photo of the blood from the

notary’s office. Are you sure that you haven’t made a mistake, Tom?”

“Don’t worry. I developed this photo last. Its edges are still wet.”
The detective moved closer to the window.
“This blood has been taken from the bed on which the poor assistant

spent last night. It’s actually the last trace of him. We should compare
it with other samples that we have.”

“That’s impossible!” Tom Wills cried suddenly.
“What’s wrong?” the detective asked impatiently.
“This cannot be Mr. Jamesson’s blood,” Tom said.
“Why? I swear I took it from his bed.”
For a moment Tom stared at the detective not knowing what to say

but then he smiled and shouted:

“Hurray! I can solve this puzzle.”
“Well, then?” the detective asked.
“The whole incident had been very cleverly prepared. This is pig’s

blood. The assistant only pretended that something had happened to
him. He made a wound on his cheek himself and poured pig’s blood all
over his bed to make it look more serious.”

“Wonderful, my boy! I regret that I didn’t take you with me yesterday.

I noticed that Jamesson had made the hole in the door himself, again
pretending that somebody else had broken into the office.”

Tom Wills listened carefully.
“So, you are sure that the will was stolen.”
“I have no doubt about that. Mr. Firmont’s relatives knew very

well about his fortune and they had been trying to find it for years.
They suspected that the place where the treasure is hidden must be
described in the will. That’s why they delegated somebody to start
working in the notary’s office and then they were patiently waiting for
Mr. Firmont’s death.”

Tom Wills was observing his boss in a strange way, as if he knew a lot

more about the case.

arrow strzała

hold up

tu: podnieść

blood cells komórki krwi

clearly wyraźnie

visible widoczny

circle koło

hollow zagłębienie, wklęsłość

pigeon gołąb

develop photos wywoływać

zdjęcia

amazing zdumiewający

various rozmaity

differ różnić się

miracle cud

realize zdawać sobie sprawę

scientifically proven naukowo

dowiedziony

shape kształt

species gatunek

Here you are Proszę

edge krawędź

trace ślad

sample próbka

cry

tu: krzyknąć

impatiently niecierpliwie

swear przysięgać

stare gapić się

pretend udawać

pour rozlewać

regret żałować

delegate wyznaczyć

in a strange way w dziwny

sposób